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Fitchburg forum's message: Stopping racism starts with dialogue

By Elizabeth Dobbins, edobbins@sentinelandenterprise.com

Updated:
04/29/2017 03:44:25 PM EDT

FITCHBURG -- Not long ago, Eladia Romera was in a cafe with her daughter and heard a woman loudly say that she was glad Donald Trump had won, because he was going to build a wall to send all the Mexicans back to Mexico.

Romera -- who is Puerto Rican and a congressional staffer for Leominster state Rep. James McGovern -- believes the statement was directed at her and her daughter.

Inspired by former first lady Michelle Obama's speech, Romera decided to "go high" and buy the woman's drink. But the experience was an example.

"They don't know me," she said. "They don't take the time to ask."

Romera and others shared their experiences and feelings about racism at North Central Massachusetts Minority Coalition's event, A Stand Against Racism, at The Highlands nursing home on Friday afternoon.

Adrian Ford speaks during the 'Stand Against Racism' forum at The Highlands on Friday, April 28, 2017. The annual event is sponsored by the YWCA to raise awareness that racism still exists and cannot be tolerated in local communities. SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE / Ashley Green (Ashley Green)

"It's unfortunate we have to get together this day and age and discuss standing against racism," Fitchburg Police Chief Ernest Martineau said. "I believe that it's extremely important that law enforcement is at the forefront."

Martineau said the department started teaching "fair and impartial policing" three years ago as part of a national program and plans to welcome the department's first two female Latino police officers this summer.

"When we're responding to calls, we're talking to people," he said.

Mayor Stephen DiNatale said events like the one Friday promote education about racism, but eradicating it is difficult.

"We've made significant inroads in trying to eliminate racism," he said.

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"I don't think we ever will because we can't eliminate ignorance."

The event's keynote speaker, Andrea Freeman, outlined one way her organization, the Massachusetts Public Health Association, addressed the lack of racial diversity among people influencing the organization's decision making process.

The statewide nonprofit promotes health in Massachusetts through advocacy, education, community organizing and coalition building.

Guest speaker Andrea Freeman, Field Director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association, chats with Adrian Ford ahead of the 'Stand Against Racism' forum at The Highlands on Friday, April 28, 2017. The annual event is sponsored by the YWCA to raise awareness that racism still exists and cannot be tolerated in local communities. SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE / Ashley Green (Ashley Green)

Poverty and health are closely linked, as are poverty and race due the history of slavery and policy in the the United States, she said.

For example, while many white veterans were able to take advantage of the G.I. Bill after World War II to get a college education and higher paying job, few black veterans were able to do the same, she said.

"There were so few schools who would take people of color so in effect they couldn't go," she said.

While health issues are not "race neutral," most of Massachusetts Public Health Association's policy board, where Freeman is a field director, were white men.

"We looked at our board and we look at out staff and we're all kind of white," she said.

Irene Hernandez speaks during the 'Stand Against Racism' forum at The Highlands on Friday, April 28, 2017. The annual event is sponsored by the YWCA to raise awareness that racism still exists and cannot be tolerated in local communities. SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE / Ashley Green (Ashley Green)

In 2016, the members of a board agreed to step down while Freeman and several other staffers remade the 27-person board to increase racial diversity while also equally representing the five regions of the state. Over 50 percent of the new board members were people of color, she said.

"For us to advance racial equity, it's vital for us to talk about race," she said. "Focusing on race creates an opportunity."

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